(Bloomberg) — United Airlines Holdings Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. are canceling around 200 flights the day before Christmas because of personnel shortages linked to a spike in omicron cases.
A “large wave” of U.K. hospital admissions should be expected as infections move into older groups, scientists advising the government said. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson urged Britons to take care at Christmas, as he considers tighter regulations amid a record surge in cases.
Israel’s plan to administer a fourth vaccine dose to older adults and medical personnel may be delayed or abandoned if the country’s top health official fails to sign off on the program.
Key Developments:
- Virus Tracker: Cases pass 278 million; deaths top 5.38 million
- Vaccine Tracker: More than 8.8 billion shots given
- Covid pill availability may depend on which state you live in
- The quest for a disposable mask that won’t pollute
- All you need to know about rapid test kits
- What we know about omicron, the new virus variant: QuickTake
Merck’s Pill Gets Japan Approval for Emergency (6:56 a.m. NY)
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has granted Special Approval for Emergency for molnupiravir, Merck says in statement.
U.K. Hospitals Face ‘Wave’ of Admissions (6:34 a.m. NY)
“As infections move into older age groups, a large wave of hospital admissions should be expected,” the U.K. government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies said in minutes of a Dec. 23 Covid-19 meeting released Friday.
SAGE said hospital admissions for patients with omicron variant are doubling every 4-5 days.
French May Get Boosters After 3 Months (5:43 p.m. HK)
France’s health authority recommended shortening the length of time between primary vaccination and booster shots to three months from four amid surging cases of the omicron variant. The Haute Autorite de Sante also recommended giving booster jabs to adolescents aged 12-17 with existing health risks.
French Health Minister Olivier Veran said in a tweet that an additional 1 million vaccination appointments would be made available next week. “From today, boosters are possible from four months after the last injection/infection,” Veran wrote.
Doubts Over Israel Fourth-Shot Plan (5:19 p.m. HK)
Israel’s plan to administer a fourth vaccine dose to older adults and medical personnel may be delayed or abandoned if the country’s top health official fails to sign off on the program.
The plan, which would have made the country the first in the world to offer a fourth shot on such a widespread basis, was announced on Tuesday by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett following a recommendation from a panel of experts. The decision was based on a forecast showing that fast-paced spread of omicron would leave the population largely unprotected from infection.
Johnson Urges Care During Christmas (4:39 p.m. HK)
Boris Johnson urged Britons to take care at Christmas, as he considers whether to tighten pandemic regulations next week amid a record surge in cases fueled by the fast-spreading omicron variant.
A total of 119,789 new cases were logged on Thursday, more than double the rate seen at the start of the month, and an increase of more than 10,000 on Wednesday’s caseload — which had also been a daily record.
Thailand Warns Over New Year Gatherings (3:50 p.m. HK)
Thailand has registered its first large outbreak of the omicron variant, prompting a caution for New Year gatherings and celebrations.
More than 20 people have been infected with the variant in a cluster linked to two Thais who returned from Europe.
India Under Pressure Over Boosters (3:48 p.m. HK)
India’s government faces a growing clamor from business leaders and public health experts to launch a booster drive and begin vaccinating children as the nation braces for a surge of omicron-fueled infections.
With ample vaccine supplies, India could begin inoculating those under 18 as well as administer third doses to front-line health care workers, the elderly and those at high risk since they got their first shots in early 2021, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the founder and chair of Biocon Ltd. — one of India’s largest drugmakers — told Bloomberg.
Taiwan Reports 11 Omicron Cases; Lab Fined (2:33 p.m. HK)
Taiwan added 11 imported omicron cases Friday, bringing the total to 27.
The government fined Academia Sinica due to its loose oversight over internal biosafety procedures led to a Covid-19 lab infection case, according to a statement from Taiwan Centers for Disease Control.
An initial investigation showed that lab workers didn’t put on equipment such as N95 masks and double glove layers as required, and didn’t follow standard operation procedures when wearing and taking off personal protective equipment.
China Booster Stimulates Antibodies (1:18 p.m. HK)
A booster shot, either in the form of inactivated vaccine or protein subunit vaccine, can still generate neutralizing antibodies against omicron, though the levels are significantly lower compared to protection against the virus’ original strain and delta, according to a study conducted by researchers from China’s National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases.
The inactivated vaccine used in the study is the one developed by China’s Sinopharm while the protein subunit shot is developed by Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co., according to the study.
South Africa Ends Quarantines (1:08 p.m. HK)
South Africa will stop contract tracing and won’t quarantine people as it shifts focus on mitigation strategies, given that as much as 80% of the nation’s population has past infections providing some immunity.
Authorities in Africa’s most industrialized nation will conduct contract tracing only in cases of cluster outbreaks, the nation’s Director General of Health said in a circular dated Thursday, which was confirmed by department spokesman, Foster Mohale.
Hong Kong Boosters for All Adults (12:46 p.m. HK)
Particular groups such as those with travel needs can receive booster at least three months after the second shot, the government said.
Hong Kong will also extend opening hours for nine community vaccination centers.
United, Delta Cancel Flights (11:02 a.m. HK)
The jump in cases is affecting the availability of flight crews and ground personnel on the day before Christmas, United Airlines said.
“We’ve unfortunately had to cancel some flights and are notifying impacted customers in advance of them coming to the airport,” United said.
The holidays are among the heaviest times for travel. The Transportation Security Administration was estimating Dec. 22 and 23 would be the busiest pre-Christmas travel dates nationally and locally, with Jan. 2 and 3 as the most-crowded for post-holiday travel.
Delta said its cancellations were due to a combination of reasons, including but not limited to potential inclement weather in some places and the impact of omicron.
China Officials Punished for Ineffective Steps (9:43 a.m. HK)
Authorities in northwestern Chinese city of Xi’an punished 26 officials responsible for ineffective work in Covid-19 curbs, China’s top anti-graft agency said in a statement, after the city was locked down amid a flare-up of cases.
Germany Issues Pandemic Warning (7 a.m. HK)
“The pandemic won’t suddenly be gone one day,” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in the text of a speech to be delivered on Saturday. “It will occupy us for a long time to come.”
On Thursday, Germany reported almost 3,200 confirmed and suspected cases of the omicron strain after the number tripled last week, according to the RKI public-health institute.
Australia Speeds Up Boosters (5:55 p.m. NY)
Australia has brought forward implementing third-dose booster shots as the nation battles outbreaks of the omicron variant.
From Jan. 4, Australians will be be able to get their booster shot four months after receiving their second dose, from five months currently, Health Minister Greg Hunt said in Canberra. From Jan. 31, the time limit will be cut again to three months.
“These dates have been set out of an abundance of caution to give Australians early continued protection,” Hunt said. About 91% of Australians aged 16 and over have had two shots, he said.
Intel, Google to Pull Out of CES (5:25 p.m. NY)
Google and General Motors Co. joined Intel Corp., the world’s largest chipmaker, and Alphabet Inc.’s autonomous driving unit, Waymo, in pulling out of in-person presentations at the CES technology conference scheduled for next month.
In a blog post on Thursday, Waymo cited “quickly rising Covid-19 infection rates,” but said its executives would participate in virtual events. Similarly, Intel said it will send only a small number of staff to the Las Vegas event and switch its participation to the internet.
An executive board member of Porsche AG, Barbara Frenkel, also canceled her plans to attend the conference scheduled to begin Jan. 5.
NYC to Limit Crowds for New Year’s Eve (2:20 p.m. NY)
New York City is limiting crowds and adding more health and safety measures for revelers at the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square amid a record surge of cases.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the celebration will still be held but only allow 15,000 people in viewing areas. The city will require proof of full vaccination and mask-wearing.
Still, the mayor declined to cancel the event altogether, citing vaccination requirements to attend, the outdoor nature of the event and the precautions taken as adequate safety measures.
Merck Pill Gets U.S. Clearance (9:23 a.m. NY)
Merck & Co.’s Covid-19 pill was cleared by U.S. regulators, giving high-risk patients another at-home treatment option at a time when the omicron variant is causing cases to surge.
The drug, molnupiravir, received emergency authorization on the heels of Pfizer Inc.’s competing pill that was cleared Wednesday, Paxlovid. Together, the treatments promise to provide a new way to keep a sharp rise in infections from overwhelming U.S. hospitals.
Molnupiravir, developed by Merck with partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP, is intended to treat Covid in non-hospitalized people 18 and older at risk of developing severe illness. A study showed it reduced the risk of hospitalization or death among adults with mild to moderate disease by 30%.
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